Shaft hook and mounting for vertical blinds



April 10, 1962 E. o. BOPP ETAL SHAFT HOOK AND MOUNTING FOR VERTICAL BLINDS Filed Dec. 9, 1957 (ill INVENTORS AFR/V5.5 77 TA Yl l? [DWARD O. 'BOPP BY MM") M Unite tates patgnt South Palm Beach, Fla, assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Edgar K. Qrr, Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed Dec. 9, 1957, Ser. No. 701,411 Claims. (63. 160-172) This invention relates to flexible window shutters often called vertical blinds and particularly to the adjustable mounting and tensioning elements for the flexible blind strips thereof.

Vertical blinds .as known in the prior art have consisted in general of mounting structures applied at the top and bottom of the window frame or the like, with simultaneously oscillated, strip-mounting elements or books for tensioning and supporting the individual vertical strips and having provision for angular adjustment of said strips to regulate light and air permeation thcrethrough.

Some vertical blinds utilize transverse slide adjustments of the several strip-mountings or carriages toward the side of the window frame whereby a large, unobstructed central area is provided'for access of air and light in the overall window construction.

In the structure for mounting and tensioning the plurality of preferably flexible blind strips of the conventional prior art, mechanism for simultaneously oscillating the mounting shafts for the individual blind strips has been essential to obtain adjustment for entrance of light and air. The oscillatory adjustment of the blind or strip-supporting means has required a common actuating medium such as an arm or pinion and chain arrangement which heretofore has been to our knowledge, positively connected with the shafts or shaft hooks of the various strip elements. Manual turning of one of the shaft hooks would, because of interconnection turn the others, but would impose strain on the connections, sometimes causing breakage or jamming of the parts.

It is an object of our present invention to provide a simple and highly efficient shaft hook and mounting construction for vertical blinds and the like, which will prevent injury to the mountings and interconnecting elements if one shaft-hook is manually turned While improving control and installation thereof in a window or door-opening.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a frictional oscillatory blind hook structure which will produce longitudinal tension upon the individual blind strips supported thereon while providing individual angular adjustment of the strips but which will in addition provide for yieldability in the event angular adjustment of the blinds is inadvertently attempted through manual, angular rotation of one or more of the blind-supporting members or hooks.

A further object is the provision of devices of the class described wherein inadvertent twisting of one of the strip or blind-supporting members will not affect the other blinds or blind-supporting members and will provide for return of the twisted blind strip when the overall adjustment means are subsequently manipulated.

More specifically, we provide frictionally connected mechanism whereby the supports for vertical blind strips inherently have the following functions, to wit:

(1) Tensioning and stretching of the individual strip or blind elements;

(2) Angular adjustment for opening and closing of the blind elements through a common control medium;

(3) Provision for eliminating jamming and injury to angular adjustment means for the various blinds through inadvertent turning or twisting of an individual hook of one of the strips; and e (4) Return of a manually twisted shaft hook and blind strip to the desired parallel and coordinating relationship Patented Apr. 10, 1962 with the other strips when the overall blind angulating a djustment mechanism is subsequently manipulated.

Our mechanism is equally applicable to transversesliding vertical blinds as to the more generally used vertical blinds which pivot on fixed axes, longitudinally of a window.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a window having vertical blinds of the transverse-sliding type mounted therein and utilizing our improved mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and on an enlarged scale with the blind strip therein shown foreshortened and adjusted to a fully opened position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view on the same scale as FIG. 2 of one of the hook shafts detached;

FIG. 4 is a detail top plan view on a greatly enlarged scale of the inner spring-engaging collar detached; and FIG. 5 is a detail vertical section on the same scale as FIG. 4 showing the upper portion of the lower shaft-hook and its mounting within the spring-engaged, hollow spindle.

Referring now to the form of our invention shown in the drawings, end-supporting brackets E are mounted at the top and bottom of thewindow frame or aperture, rigidly carrying inwardly extending mounting channels E-l which slidably interfit with the channel-supporting beams B for the carriages and blind-strip mounting.

Individual block carriages C constructed of suitable plastic or metal are slidably mounted within the upper and lower supporting beams B each having rotatably mounted therein a horizontal axis, a worm gear G which is in mesh with the longitudinal worm W, externally formed on a hollow shaft-containing spindle 8. A square shaft S for angularly adjusting the multiplicity of blind strips 5 extends horizontally through the intermediate portion of the interior of each of the beams B, slidably and non-rotatably engaging each of the worm gears G of the upper or lower mounting structure as the case may be and being suitably journaled at its extremities in part of the supporting structure (not shown). Through the slidable connection of the worm gears G with the square shaft S, each of the carriages C of the two sets of blinds may transversely slide upon said shafts.

The upper and lower shafts S are simultaneously turned by suitable means such as an endless bead chain X trained about co-axial pinions or sprockets, not shown, at corresponding ends and extending axially of the shafts S.

In the form of the invention illustrated, a combined blind hook and shaft 5 is provided. This book member 5 is preferably but not necessarily constructed from flat, sheet material such as a stifii metal having the hook portion provided with the blind-engaging arm 50 of general conventional structure, adapted to be inserted in and to fit smoothly against the folded or end edge of a flexible blind strip 5. This member 5 has projecting vertically from the hook and blind-supporting portion thereof, a reduced shaft portion 5a which as shown, is of oblong cross section terminating at its outer end in a springengaging hook Sb. A straight abutment shoulder 5a is formed where the shaft 5a converged into the hook portion of member 5. Element 5d provided abutment shoulders for engaging against the exterior horizontal portion of the respective supporting beam B.

The width of the shaft portion 5a is substantially less than the internal diameter of the thirnble 8 so that it may be nicely housed therein with provision for a frictional coil spring 7 to surround the shaft and be interposed between the shaft and the inner periphery of the thimble 8. One extremity of coil spring 7 is bent diametrically to the convolutions thereof and is snugly engaged by the hook portion d of the shaft. The opposite end 7a of coil spring 7 abuts against the special mounting collar 6 (see FIGS. 4 and 5 which closely fits the inner peripheral wall of spindle 8 and is cross slotted at 6a to slidably engage the cross sectional shape of shaft 5a while nonrotatably connecting the shaft with the collar. This collar 6 which may be constructed of plastic or sheet metal abuts against an annular shoulder 80 (see FIG. 5) in the internal base portion of the associated spindle 8, said annular shoulder having opposed, diametrically arranged, semi-circular groove 811 formed therein for yieldably receiving a bead 6b diametrically formed on the opposed face of the special collar 6. Thus, by the normal reception and engagement of the bead 6b within the said recesses 8b of the spindle member, spindle and hook shaft 5 are frictionally and yieldably connected together, thus collar 6 constituting a clutch element.

From the foregoing description and the drawings, it will be seen that corresponding hooks 5 of carriages in the upper and lower mountings through interposition of the springs 7, are mounted for yielding and tensioning movement axially of their shaft portions 5a. Thus, in application of the hemmed ends 5c of the individual blind strips to the hooks, one or the other of the cooperating hooks may be moved inwardly to facilitate engagement of the blind-engaging hook portion 50 with the appropriate hem and upon release of this hook or the two cooperating, the springs 7 Will urge the shoulders 5d of the hook members and the entire hooks bodily, outwardly to stretch and tension the flexible blind strip.

Referring again to the yieldable interconnection of the spindle 8 with the hook shaft 5 through engagement of the bead 6b with the recesses 81), when the worm shaft S is turned for varying the angulation of the several blind strips, all hook shafts will be simultaneously turned through engagement of the worm with the respective worm gears G of the respective spindles. Turning of the worm shaft 5 in the example of the invention illustrated is accomplished through pulling of the bead chain X in one or the other directions.

If by inadvertence a person attempts to adjust the vertical blinds or one of them by manually grasping one of the hooks 5 and swinging the same, the coil springs at the two ends of the two hooks involved in this blind strip will yield and the rounded engagement surfaces of the ribs 615 and semi-circular recesses 8b of the spindles, will disengage, permitting the particular hooks involved to turn out of normal position without placing any appreciable stress or strain upon the worm gear connections between the spindles and worm shaft S.

In the next operation of the worm through the chain or other manipulating mechanism for rotating the two shafts S, the spindles are all turned by worm and gear connection and the individual blind strip which has been inadvertently displaced through renewed engagement of the respective beads 6b of the two collars involved, with the sockets or recesses 31), brings this blind strip and the hook supporting the same back to the same angulated position as the other blind strips.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that our invention is equally applicable to the standard angularly adjustable, flexible window shutters or vertical blinds, wherein the individual blind strips are mounted and supported at fixedly spaced intervals from the supporting structure, or for application to transverse sliding blinds, as exemplified in the structure illustrated in the drawings.

in the drawings, it will be noted that a separate carriage is provided for each of the blind hooks 5 including as shown, the worm or gear G journaled in the carriage and slidably related with the transverse adjustment shaft S of square cross Section. Thus, in conventional manner (not shown) the several carriages C of top and bottom beams and preferably from the center of the window or door opening, may be interconnected by links or flexible elements to predetermine spaced relationship when the blinds are closed, the innermost of the carriages C at both top and bottom rows being connected with conventional means for sliding these carriages and of course in sequence, through abutment the successive outward carriages towards one end or the other of the window opening. In such slide adjustment of the blind carriages, the gears G slide smoothly upon the flatted surfaces of the square operating shafts S.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that we have made provision for elimination of jamming and injury to angular adjustment means such as gears, pinions, racks, etc., for the blinds which in conventional present structure is frequent because of inadvertent turning or twisting of an individual hook or shaft for one of the blind strips.

We further provide for yieldable clutch engagement of the various shaft books with assurance of return of the shaft hooks and blind strip to the desired parallel and coordinating relationship with other strips when the overall blind angulating adjustment mechanism is subsequently manipulated.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details. arrangement and propertions of the parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In blind construction employing a number of angularly adjustable blind strips, adjustable mounting mechanism for engaging the ends of said strips, comprising in each instance a blind attachment portion engaging one end of a blind strip and having an axial, substantially perpendicular shaft portion accommodated in a traversing mounting structure, an oseillatable member surrounding said shaft portion and interconnected with driving means for rotating all of the respective members to normally vary the angulation of said strips and an element slidably but non-rotatably mounted on said shaft and having yieldable clutch engagement with its associated, shaftsurrounding oscillatable member.

2. In vertical blind construction which employs a multiplicity of angularly adjustable blind strips, adjustable mounting means for the ends of said strips, each comprising a hook shaft having an element for connection with one end of a strip and having a substantially perpendicular shaft element suitably journaled in a horizontal support medium, a spindle surrounding said shaft element, a coil spring surrounding said shaft element, one end of said spring being connected with said shaft element, a collar clutch element having slidable and nonrotatable connection with said shaft element, said collar element having yieldable connection with the inner end portion of said spindle and said spring urging engagement and interlocking of said last mentioned element with the inner end portion of the spindle to interconnect said spindle with said shaft element.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, wherein said coil spring has a multi functional relationship serving to impart tension on its connection by said blind strip element and further, in cooperation with said collar, acting to normally connect said shaft portion with said spindle and said connection being yieldable through manual, individual turning of one of said blind strip supporting elements.

4. The structure set forth in claim 2 wherein said spindles are all drivably interconnected with a means for oscillating the same and wherein the yieldable interconnection of said shaft with said spindle through the yield able connection mechanism is effected by a bead element projecting from one of said cooperative interconnection 3 means and a cooperating bead-receiving recess or detent formed in the second of said yieldable coupled elements. 5. In a blind construction which employs a multiplicity of angularly adjustable blind strips, angularly adjustable mounting mechanism for engaging and tensioning the ends of said strips comprising in a single instance, a blind attachment portion for engaging one end of a blind strip, and having an axiai shaft portion accommodated in a traversing mounting structure, a spindle surrounding said shaft portion and interconnected with driving means for rotating all of said spindles to normally vary the angulation of said strips, mechanism for yieldingly interconmeeting saidspindle with said shaft portion, said mechanism including means for tensioning said strip longitudinally and including a coil spring surrounding the greater portion of said shaft structure, said coil spring housed within said spindle, a clutch element slidably but non- 5 rotatably connected with said shaft portion and means interposed between said clutch element and said spindle for normally connecting said clutch element and shaft with said spindle but for yieldably breaking connection of said shaft and spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 956,298 Cudahy Apr. 26, 1910 1,783,378 Ferris Dec. 2, 1930 2,625,219 Peck Jan. 13, 1953 2,809,531 Moyer Oct. 15, 1957 2,809,693 Sharpe Oct. 15, 1957 2,848,045 Bennett Aug. 19, 1958 2,869,636 Klenz Ian. 20, 1959 

